37 lines
1.6 KiB
Markdown
37 lines
1.6 KiB
Markdown
---
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title: Checking for existing SSH keys
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intro: 'Before you generate an SSH key, you can check to see if you have any existing SSH keys.'
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redirect_from:
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- /articles/checking-for-existing-ssh-keys
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- /github/authenticating-to-github/checking-for-existing-ssh-keys
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versions:
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free-pro-team: '*'
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enterprise-server: '*'
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github-ae: '*'
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topics:
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- SSH
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---
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{% data reusables.ssh.dsa-support %}
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{% data reusables.command_line.open_the_multi_os_terminal %}
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2. Enter `ls -al ~/.ssh` to see if existing SSH keys are present:
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```shell
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$ ls -al ~/.ssh
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# Lists the files in your .ssh directory, if they exist
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```
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3. Check the directory listing to see if you already have a public SSH key. By default, the filenames of the public keys are one of the following:
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- *id_rsa.pub*
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- *id_ecdsa.pub*
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- *id_ed25519.pub*
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If you don't have an existing public and private key pair, or don't wish to use any that are available to connect to {% data variables.product.product_name %}, then [generate a new SSH key](/articles/generating-a-new-ssh-key-and-adding-it-to-the-ssh-agent).
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If you see an existing public and private key pair listed (for example *id_rsa.pub* and *id_rsa*) that you would like to use to connect to {% data variables.product.product_name %}, you can [add your SSH key to the ssh-agent](/articles/generating-a-new-ssh-key-and-adding-it-to-the-ssh-agent/#adding-your-ssh-key-to-the-ssh-agent).
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{% tip %}
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**Tip:** If you receive an error that *~/.ssh* doesn't exist, don't worry! We'll create it when we [generate a new SSH key](/articles/generating-a-new-ssh-key-and-adding-it-to-the-ssh-agent).
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{% endtip %}
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